A FINE all-round performance from Daniel
Berry helped Cheshire start their season with a welcome win.The Hyde player impressed with bat and ball for
his county as they beat Cumberland at Netherfield CC in their
opening match in this year's MCCA Knockout Trophy on Sunday.
Berry top-scored with an unbeaten 87 from 77 balls to help Cheshire
recover from 102-7 to post 233-9 from their allotted 50 overs.
And then the off-spinner starred with a 5-33 return as Cumberland
slipped from relative comfort at 120-3 to 215 all out in their
reply.
"It wasn't a great start to the season, but the main thing
is we've got the win," reflected Cheshire team manager Sandy
Scrimgeour.
"The first 15 overs of our innings were fine, but from a
good start we were in a lot of trouble.
"We did well to post 233. It was a modest total, but all
credit to the team because we bowled and fielded very well."

Cheshire were forced to make one change
before the match with Hyde seamer Tom Young ruled outwith a groin
injury, so Macclesfield bowler James Hawley (pictured) made his
debut for the county.
And, having lost the toss and been asked to bat, Cheshire started
well with openers Warren Goodwin and Danny Leech putting on 68
for the first week.
Goodwin went on to make 54, but Cheshire conspired to lose seven
wickets for 34 runs.
But Berry and Alderley Edge all-rounder Jason Whittaker staged
a valiant recovery, putting on 84 runs in an important eighth
wicket stand.
Berry then hit three sixes and two fours, added to a single off
the opening ball from Hawley, as Cheshire scored 27 runs off the
last over.

Those runs proved crucial as Cumberland fell 18 runs short in
their reply.
Alex Stead top-scored with 70 for the hosts and Alex Roberts (44)
and former Durham professional Gary Pratt (36) were also in the
runs, but Cheshire worked hard to take wickets at regular intervals.
Berry did the bulk of the damage while Bowdon seamer Adam Syddall
also impressed with three wickets - and Nathan Dumelow and Whittaker
claimed a wicket each.
From 139 the hosts lost their last seven wickets for 76 runs as
Cheshire claimed two points to go top of the Group 1 qualifying
table.
"Danny Berry had a great game for us," added Scrimgeour.
"He's always been a promising talent, but last year he won
us a game against Wales with an unbeaten knock of 85."
Bedfordshire are second after they beat Oxfordshire by five wickets.
Chasing Oxford's 277-7 from 50 overs, Bedfordshire reached 280-5
with seven balls to spare.

Northamptonshire batsman Alex Wakely smashed an unbeaten 180 from
147 balls for Bedfordshire, an innings which included 25 fours
and six sixes.

CHESHIRE have named a strong 12-man squad ahead of their opening
match of the season this weekend.

The former Minor Counties champions take on Cumberland on Sunday
in their first group match in this year's MCCA Knockout Trophy.

And having been knocked out at the quarter-final stages of last
year's competition, it's understandable team manager Sandy Scrimgeour
would love for his side go ever further this time around.

Cheshire beat Cumberland by 14 runs in a rain-affected match which
was reduced to 25 overs last season - and Scrimgeour expects a
tough opener to this season's 50-over campaign at Netherfield
Cricket Club.

"We got the quarter-finals last season and didn't play to
the standard we know we're capable of, we were well beaten by
Devon," said Scrimgeour.

"But we're really looking forward to the new season and hopefully
we can have a good run in Trophy.

"We want to well in both competitions [the Championship and
Trophy], the one-day format is a sprint and the three-day format
is a marathon.

"Cumberland will be a good side, but we've got a strong squad
and been able to keep a lot of players from last season. It's
important to have a consistent side."

In previous seasons the MCCA Trophy final has been played at Lords,
but this year it will be played at Durham's Riverside ground.

"There's always been an incentive to play at Lords, but the
chance to play at the Riverside would be great for any county,"
added Scrimgeour.

"We've got a strong side for Sunday, it's pretty much the
same players we used last year. I know they're all looking forward
to starting the season."